Dick jumped up, his eyes shining, and strode forward and grasped the corporal’s hand.
“Sandy and Toma will be tickled pink!” he cried enthusiastically.
“And what about yourself?” smiled Rand.
Dick flushed to the roots of his hair. He grinned sheepishly.
“Why—why, I’m pleased, of course. Who wouldn’t be with a chance like that. I can hardly wait until we start, corporal.”
He grew suddenly more serious.
“Have you any further instructions to give us before we go?”
Corporal Rand shook his head.
“There is nothing except what I have already told you,” he replied. “You know the route. There are any number of trails leading south to the Yellowhead Pass. After you have gone through the pass and have turned north, you’ll find only one trail, very rough and difficult, which will take you in a northwesterly direction to Fort Pennington. From there your course will be straight west to the Pacific.”
“And there—on the coast, I mean—our real work will commence,” Dick smiled in anticipation.